Melvin Wayne Cole, 78, of Iola, Kansas, died Thursday, July 21, 2016, at Windsor Place in Iola. Melvin was born March 12, 1938, in Iola, the son of Lester Charles and Erma Pearl (Teel) Cole. He grew up in the Iola and LaHarpe area. He has worked as a heavy equipment operator in the agriculture field most of his life. Melvin resided in Nebraska for many years before returning to Iola a year ago. Survivors include his 5 children: Darrell Cole of Iola, Brian Cole of North Glenn, CO, Sherry Wilson of Greeley, CO, Bradley Cole of Lyman, NE and Susan Smiley of Longmont, CO; 3 brothers, Edwin Cole of LaHarpe, Charles Cole of Gas and Dean Cole of Iola; 16 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Billy and Steven Cole, and sister Betty Sprague. Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2016, at the Gas City School in Gas, KS. Inurnment will be in the LaHarpe Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Melvin Cole Memorial Fund and may be left with the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service of Iola, who assisted the family. Go to www.iolafuneral.com to leave a condolence online.